Prezioso's 4-for-8 Day Propels Temple to Doubleheader Sweep at Delaware

Wednesday, March 14

Newark, DE

2:30 p.m.

Temple University

8-8

Delaware

3-18

Temple University

Delaware

Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University

Prezioso's 4-for-8 Day Propels Temple to Doubleheader Sweep at Delaware

3.14.12 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Owls pick up 8-0 and 4-2 wins

NEWARK, Del. – Sophomore shortstop Sarah Prezioso went 3-for-4 with four RBI in the opener, and collected a hit in a critical seventh inning rally in the nightcap to lead the Temple softball team to a doubleheader sweep at Delaware (3-18) on Wednesday afternoon. The Owls won the first game 8-0 and rallied to win game two, 4-2.

In game one, the Owls (9-8) jumped out to a 2-0 lead after just one half inning of play. Lacey McKeon got the offense started with a one out single. Prezioso followed with a single to center field to put two runners on. After a ground out moved the runners to second and third, Rachel Knable drove them both in with a single to put TU on the board.

After shutting out the host team in the bottom of the first, Temple came back to score three more in the second. Julia Kastner drew a one out walk before Ali Robinson delivered a two-out single to put runners on the corners. McKeon reached on a Delaware error, and Kastner scored on the play. Prezioso followed with a triple to bring in Robinson and McKeon, and chase Blue Hens starting pitcher Chenxi Jiao. Brianna Jennings came in and induced a ground out to get out of the inning with her team down 5-0.

The next three innings were scoreless for both sides, but that changed in the sixth. The Owls got three more runs on four hits in the frame, including a two-run single off the hot bat of Prezioso. The 8-0 lead put TU in place to mercy rule the host team if it could go without allowing a run in the bottom of the sixth.

The Blue Hens threatened when Gina Knutson doubled to lead off the inning, but the Temple defense stepped up and caught her trying to steal third for the first out. A fielder's choice and a ground out were the final two outs and the Owls came away with the 8-0 win.

Prezioso finished the game 3-for-4 with four RBI. Pitcher Brooklin White (5-3) tossed a gem, allowing just two hits in the 6.0 inning shutout effort.

The nightcap did not start off the way TU would desire, and the squad had to overcome five errors in the game to pull out the victory.

The Bluehens plated a run in the bottom of the first, taking advantage of two hits and a Temple miscue in the inning. That score stood until the sixth when the host team scored again, turning three TU errors into a run to grab a 2-0 lead with one inning to play.

Down to their final three outs, the Owls rallied to collect four hits and score four times in the seventh, coming from behind to take the lead. Knable reached on an error to open the frame. McKeon replaced her as a pinch runner before Meaghan Marley stepped in and doubled to left field to put both runners in scoring position. One out later, Kayla Cook drove in the first Temple run of the game with a single to left field. Christina Sykora then sent a double to left field, plating both Cook and Alysse Pujol, who had entered as a pinch runner for Marley.

With two outs, Samantha Schoell drew a walk and Prezioso singled to load the bases before Stephanie Pasquale was hit by a pitch to force in run number four. McKeon grounded out to end the inning, but not before the team had taken the 4-2 lead.

Like game one, Delaware threatened in its half of the final frame, again getting assists from a hit and a Temple error in the inning. Jess Grisler led off with a double and Michelle McKinnon reached on the error to put runners on the corners with no outs. But pitcher Capri Catalano induced two groundouts and a popout to get out of danger and pick up the win.

Catalano (2-4) went the distance, giving up five hits while striking out three and walking one.

Temple is 9-8 and will open the home portion of its schedule with a doubleheader against Penn on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.